San Diego Community College Saves Big Using Cree LED Lighting with SmartCast Technology

DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 13, 2015 – When San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) was searching for energy efficient LED lighting for its campus, it chose Cree® LED lighting to achieve a superior light experience with integrated control capabilities while saving money on energy and maintenance. Using Cree’s high-performing LED lighting with SmartCast® Technology, SDCCD upgraded its administrative offices with intelligent light while demonstrating a strong return on investment, consuming up to 75 percent less energy and generating over $80K of rebates for instant savings.

San Diego Community College Saves Big Using Cree LED Lighting with SmartCast Technology

“Inefficient lighting costs us a lot of money per month on electricity and labor,” said Mark Doubleday, senior planner, energy systems and facilities maintenance for SDCCD. “While we’ve tripled our campus footprint, we have not tripled our manpower or budgets, so we have to be smarter. Cree’s LED lighting and integrated SmartCast® Technology gives us a better light experience while delivering unprecedented savings.”

As part of the upgrade to the administrative offices, SDCCD installed Cree CR Series troffers with SmartCast Technology, delivering exceptional lighting performance and essential lighting control without the complex design, installation and set-up of traditional lighting control systems. Featuring Cree’s innovative OneButton™ Setup, luminaires enabled with SmartCast Technology create their own secure network, learn about their environment and form groups to maximize savings, all with the push of a single button. SmartCast Technology eliminates additional design, wires and set up time often associated with control systems to provide the simplest system available. Exterior campus lighting also received a refresh with the installation of Cree Edge™ area, security and high output flood lights, creating well-lit spaces that enhance safety.

“One of the qualities SDCCD likes from the Cree SmartCast® Technology system is the ability to make adjustments for employees with different preferences across the office,” said Andrew Hoerner, energy solution sales manager for Rexel, the distributor involved in the project. “Rexel’s Energy Service team identified Cree’s SmartCast® Technology as the best fit for energy savings, ease of install, Title 24 compliance, rebate eligibility and end-user comfort.”

SDCCD was able to finance the upgrades using Proposition 39 funding, a state program that makes up to $550 million available annually to pay for energy projects that demonstrate efficiency and a strong investment return for eligible education agencies. As the second largest community college district in the state of California, SDCCD continues to grow rapidly, tripling their footprint in less than 10 years – making it more important than ever to make the best use of limited resources while maintaining a commitment to sustainability. More efficient lighting was quickly identified as the biggest opportunity for improvement.

Previously, SDCCD used on-bill financing with their utility, SDG&E, paying for projects through energy savings. The new solution allowed the college to completely fund the upgrades through Proposition 39, and Cree’s LED lighting solution qualified for additional incentives from the utility. The new lighting system also offers up to 100,000 hours of life expectancy, resulting in significant maintenance reductions and savings lasting up to 10 years.

“This installation demonstrates how making the switch to high-quality LED lighting can serve as one of the quickest ways for an educational facility to reduce operating expenses and create a better working and learning environment throughout the campus,” said Betty Noonan, Cree chief marketing officer.

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The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is a green living expert, celebrity and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and a Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from:
# Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions)
# Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman
# Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel
# Green Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky
# Solar Power For Your Home by David Findley
# Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke
# Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley
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